atwell



RICHARD H. ATWELL, or BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

.Leiters Patent No. 75,721, dated lImcL 24,1868; antcdated v.ZU-arch 7,1868.`

IMPROVEMENT In LIQUID-METERS.

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To ALL wHoM vIr MAY 'coNloERN-'I Be it known that I, RIcHARD H. A'rwELL, of the city and county of Baltimore, and State of Maryland, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Water-Meters; vand I do hereby declare the following to bcafnll,clear, and exact description of the same,'rci`crcnee being had to` the accompanying drawings, which are made a'vpart ofthis specification.l I i This meter consists essentially of a cylindricalY box or 111easuring4ehambcr, containing an oscillating-wing or piston, which imparts its motion to the central shaft whereby the register is actuated, and which, at the com pletion of'eaeh movement-,reverses an oscillating-valve, so as to cause the water` to alternately'enter and discharge from the measuring-chamber at the oppositeV sides of an internal partition, the arrangement admitting of a continuons unintermitting operation.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved meter, a portion being broken away to exhibit the arrangef meint ofthe valve which controls the entrance andexit ofthe water.

Figure 2 is a vertical section on the line :e x, g. 1; Figure 3 is a horizontal section on the lineg/ y, lig. 1. i Figure 4 is a section on the line zz, iig.` 2; and i Figure 5 is a section on the line 'w w, iig. 2. Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the'several figures.

A isa cylindrical box, whose intcriorforms a measuring-chamber, B. C is a vertical stationary partition,

closing the space between the eentralshaft D and the s ubjacent wall of the chamber B.- E is a wing or piston,

keyed tothe shaft D, and working snugly'. against the 4wall of the chamber B. F is a hollow cylindrical valve, v

oscillating within a valve-box, F1,`which is situated within a box,\G, divided by an internal partition, G3, to form two chambers .Grl G2. The valve F is likewise divided by a partition or diaphragm, F4, into two chambers, F2 F3, communicating respectively with the chambers Gl G2 of the box` G.: H is the supply-pipe, which communicates with the chamber G1, and I the diseha1gepipe, communicating with the l chamber G2. llhechamber, F2 of the oscillating-valve F is provided with openings, ff1 fz, the lower one`,f, having constant communication with the receiving-chamber GI of box G, and the two upper openings,j`1f2, being made to alternately communicato with the measuring-chamber B through the openings b 6l at either side of the lower end of partition C. The chamberF3 of the valve F has openingsjaf, the lower opening, f4, admitting of a continuous discharge of liquid from the valve F into chamber G2, and the upper open-ing, f3, being alternately brought into coincidence with the openings bz la? at either side'of the partition C. J is a latch, fixed upon the square stud-shaft F0, projecting from the end of theyalvc F; This latch has two holes, iig. 1, engaged alternately by the pin k ofthe spring K, which is fastened at one end`to the outside ofv one of the heads of A. The projecting'end of the shaft D has ixed upon `it an oscillating-arm, L, which has aI curved piece, L1, rigidly fixed to itsfree extremity, and which carries two springs, Lz L3, one at either side. The parts last described are employed to operate the valve, as will be presently explained. The motionof the valve 'F in either-direction is limited by its pin ,f3 working in the recess f of the valvefseat F1, (see fig. 1.)

l The operation isas follows: Liquid-from the supply-pipe H first enter's the chamber Gl, and thence passes' directly into the valve F, supposing which to be" in the position represented in iig. 4, the coincident openings f2 bl afford communication between `the chambers F2 and B, while the openings f3 b2 form an exitspassage from B to chamber G n Hence the liquid entering B acts to force the piston E around upon its axis, as indi# cated by the'arrows in g. 4, and the liquid previously occupying B is expelled or allowed to escape therefrom, the course of the escaping liquid being through hay, F, f4, and G2, into dischargespipe I, as represented by the arrows iu fig. 5. When the piston E is about to complete its movement in the'direction indicated, the spring' L3 comes in contactV with the latch J,\which, being released from` the pin .7' by the action of Llupon an incline on thc spring K, is vibrated suiliciently tofreverse the position of the valve F, and thus bring the openingsf and b, and f3 and b2 into coincdence. The incoming water now acts to move the pistonE inthe opposite direc;

tion, and when the pistolnreaehes the position rst referred to, the valve F is reversed by the action of Ll L2 upon the spring Kand latch J respectively. When the latch J is released'by pin k, andfmovcd suiiciently to reverse the valve, the said pin takes into the other hole, j, and holds the valve' immovable in its new position. At every oscillating movement of the piston E, its shaft D aetuates the register, to record a speeic quantity.

It is obvious that by a mcre modification, the parts for operating the valve may be all enclosed. Thus, a piece corresponding with L1 may be applied to the free extremity of the piston E, s0 as to project at either side thereof, and the springs adapted thereto. In the central part, FT, ofthe valve-box F, slots may be cut, one of said slots being at either side ofthe partition'or diaphragm C, and each permitting thc requisite-play of a strong pin projecting from the valve F, and enabling the latter to be reversed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

1. I claim the arrangement, within a measuring-chamber, B, ofthe oscillating-piston E, and diaphragm, or partition C, with a reversible valve, automatically operated by the same mechanism that moves the piston, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. I claim the oscillating-arm L L1, and springs L2 L3, in combination with the latch J and spring K, er their equivalents, substantially asand for the purpose specified.

I claim the valve F, having separate chambers, F2 F3, in combination'with the receiving and dischargechambers G G, substantially as and for the purpose described.

To the above speeication of my improvement in the construction of water-meters, I have signed my hand, this ninth day of July, 1867.'

R. lI. ATWELL.

Witnesses:

E. J. W. Faenrz, A. M. FAeHTz. 

